WHOOO HOO!!!...got my Ampeg VT40

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lt. Bob
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Lt. Bob

Lt. Bob

Spread the Daf!
....Dragonworks heard I was looking for a Ampeg V-2 head to build into a 4-10" combo. Well there was an amp that was, in fact, that very thing. I'd never heard of it and it was real uncommon.....called the VT-40.
Well, a friend of dragonworks had one for sale and I bought it.........it's beautiful. It's a 30 year old amp and it's just the most awesome freakin' amp I've ever seen or heard.
Plus, I also recently bought a VT-22 which is a 2-12" combo with 100 watts.
Plus I still have my V-2.............just call me Mr. Ampeg. :)
They have a real unique sound because they use a different power tube than anything else. (7027A). I love these things and they're about twice as loud as they ought to be.......love em'. !!!!!! :D
I'll post a recording of it in a week or two. :)
 
Dont forget to mention that they way more than Fat Albert.
they have nice reverb also. Does the VT40 have the midrange rocker switch. If you havent done so allready, take a guitar and plug it into the VT22, set the midrange rocker to the center posistion and turn the midrange all the way up on the channel and crank the amp and that guitar will scream forever.
 
Yep.....the VT40 is the same amp.....just less power (which is a good thing :D )
That mid-range rocker is the key to the whole Ampeg sound that I'm madly in love with!
 
I've got a VT-22 which is now broke and I've got to replace power supply filter caps in it. For sure I will do that because they are awesome sounding amps though they are LOUD to the point one must be careful or you suffer hearing loss. These old amps are cool but when thinking about buying one I usually tell people that the old capacitors in them start leaking after so many years and replacing them isn't cheap but worth it to my ears.
 
Lt. Bob:

I used a VT-40 on the road (God---almost 30 years ago!) and it never let me down. What a thick, clean sound! I did hate one thing about it though---no channel-master volume capability for overdrive. Ampeg eventually made a master volume volume footswitch for the VT-40, which went a long way towards increasing the flexibility of the 40. I hope that your unit came with it.

Oh, by the way---I don't remember which one it is, but there is an unusually uncommon tube in the amp. Good luck finding it---it was a b*tch even when tube-testers were in nearly every hardware store. I hope that it's still used in an active MIG.

Thanks for the memories. Enjoy it.

Paj
8^)
 
No.....no master volume (although my V-2 has one) but I'm gonna get a power soak for the VT-22. I might not need it for the VT40 'cause I play fairly loud.
As for the 7027A power tubes....they're made again so it's no problem. Plus I saw a tube site that said a 6L6'll go right in 'cause the only difference is a plate that runs to a pin that's not connected to anything in Ampegs.
 
Lt. Bob, try this site www.antiqueradiosupply.com they have old stock but still "new" in that it has never been used, plus they recently purchased a large military store of 1950's and 1960's valves.
If it was ever made they seem to have it.
Clive
 
Not too many Ampeg enthusiasts out there, but I guess I'd be one too.

And yes they do weigh a friggin' ton!

BTW Lt. Bob, Could you look into the Thread "tuning before/during recording"? You were specifically requested...
 
Bob, I dont believe you can just substitute the 6l6's for the 7027A's. Different bias voltages. There is a fix for this, somewhere and I dont remember where, you can find mods for the V4 and VT22 that tells you which resistors have to be switched out to get the proper bias voltage for 6L6's.
Been down this road having owned two V4's and a VT22. Also own an ampeg VL1002 now, and have owned reverbrockets and geminis.
 
dragonworks said:
Bob, I dont believe you can just substitute the 6l6's for the 7027A's. Different bias voltages.
Click to expand...

According to this tube site I can,... with no mods and it supposedly says so on some Ampegs' schematics.
Not that I'm going to 'cause 7027's aren't hard to find at all. But still....an interesting article.
http://www.triodeel.com/7027.htm
 
Are Ampegs tubes standardized at all in what they use from the factory? I've got a vt-120, though not sure what the tubes are, but they are probably factory stock. Where is the cheapest place to buy replacements?
 
looks like the cheapest place is that link up a few posts by Clive Hughs.
www.antiqueradiosupply.com
As for tube types.....I doubt that your newer amp uses 7027s. I'd check with Ampeg or that link I put up for the Ampeg store
 
Lt. Bob:

As I remember it, it was a tube before the final power stage. Oh, well---enjoy. I do remember that the amp put out---protect your hearing.

Good Luck,
Paj
8^)
 
hmmmm......Ya' know; I hadn't even checked to see what any of the other tubes are......I'd better look. But none of the sites I've gone to have mentioned anything as being hard to get other than the power tubes. But I will check that out.

I'm not too worried about the hearing thing.........I only play as loud as I want, regardless of how loud the amp can get.....
plus, at my age.....how much longer can I live? :D
 
Hey Lt. Congrats on your new toy. I've always loved Ampegs too. I've owned 2 VT-40s. I'd still have one, but where I am now I could never turn it up loud enough to make it distort. Oh well. Years ago, when amps were BIG, I had a 4-12 Ampeg. I don't remember the model though. And my very first amp was a Gemini back when they had the blue tolex. Damn, I'm gettin all nostalgic.


Twist
 
6L6 vs. 7027a

Lt. Bob said:
According to this tube site I can,... with no mods and it supposedly says so on some Ampegs' schematics.
Not that I'm going to 'cause 7027's aren't hard to find at all. But still....an interesting article.
http://www.triodeel.com/7027.htm
Click to expand...
Hi Bob! I have two VT40s that Ive used for years with 6L6s. Its true that 7027s are made again, but I believe there's only one brand(cant remember which). 6L6s, on the other hand are available in many brands and they all sound a little different. This gives you more flexibility in customizing your tone. Here's a pic of mine! :)
 

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Man ...... those look mint. Mine is a little more worn although it's in good shape.
I've actually started using my Mesa Blue Angel for most gigs now 'cause of the VT-40 weighing 95 freakin' pounds!
:shock:
 
Yeah, I had a VT-22 years ago, its was a tank, indestructible. I was once carrying it into a club and stepped into a large gopher hole and down I went. The amp did 3 end over end rolls. I knew I was screwed-50 miles from home too!
Decided to try it, it warmed up and played like nothing had happened, like I said-it was a tank! ;)
 
Old Thread Revival! Googled VT-40 and this thread came up.

Anybody wanna buy a very good VT-40?... I got one.
 
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